Polarity in Motion

by Brenda Vicars

Fifteen-year-old Polarity Weeks just wants to live a normal life, but with a mother diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, that’s rarely easy. Her life gets exponentially more disastrous when her sixth-period history classmates start ogling a nude picture of her on the Internet. Polarity would never have struck such a shameless pose, but the photo is definitely of her, and she’s at a complete loss to explain its existence.

Child Protective Services yanks her from her home, suspecting her parents. The kids at school mock her, assuming she took it herself. And Ethan, the boy she was really starting to like, backpedals and joins the taunting chorus. Surrounded by disbelief and derision on all sides, Polarity desperately seeks the truth among her friends. Only then does she learn that everyone has dark secrets, and no one’s life is anywhere near normal.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Mystery, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction

255 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2014

About the author

Brenda Vicars is mesmerized by the way long-forgotten ancestors influence our lives. She believes transgenerational trauma is a hidden river that runs through past generations and bubbles up into the present. This concept inspired her new novel, Echoes of Our Ancestors, published by Bloodhound Books, Cambridge, UK, July 2024.

She started composing poems and stories as soon as she learned to read, but most of her career was spent helping others write. She taught levels from middle school through college, including college English to inmates inside a Texas prison.

Her debut novel, Polarity in Motion, published in 2014 by Red Adept Publishing, topped Amazon charts. She says this book was inspired by the reality that the playing field is not level for all young people, and she wanted to bring disenfranchised voices to the page.

Reviews

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley.)

"Attention, please. Attention. This is Mrs. Sanchez speaking. Polarity Weeks, report to the office. Polarity weeks, report to the office immediately."



This was a YA mystery story, about a girl who had a naked photo of herself put onto the internet.

I felt quite sorry for Polarity, because none of what happened was her fault, and it was also really embarrassing for her. It must also have been quite scary for her the way she was taken away from her family by social services.

The storyline in this was about the mystery of who had taken the photo of Polarity, how they had taken it, and who had then posted it to the internet. There was a little bit of romance, but not a lot, and I wasn’t expecting the racism discussions that went on.

The ending was pretty good, and I liked that we got answers to all of the questions!



6.5 out of 10

[megHan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very rare for me to finish a book and not have words to express how I feel about the story. Usually, I gush all over it or scream from the rooftops about what made me hate it, but this ... I think I'm still recovering.

I picked this book up two nights ago, planning to read a few chapters before I went to sleep. Next thing I knew, I was finishing the story and it was somewhere around 2:30 in the morning.

The characters were interesting and, with each "turn of the page," I wanted to know more about Polarity and her family. Being there as she went through this horrible experience was heartbreaking and there were times that I wished I was in the story so I could just hug her and make things better. The relationship she had with her parents was something special, but because of her mother's condition, there were some very emotional moments (written well) that affected me as a reader, and as a human being. Polarity and her grandmother were definitely my favorites, but there were a lot of other characters that I enjoyed reading about, including Ethan, her grandmother's boyfriend, and Tilly.

This story is stuck in the genre of romance, but to me it was far more than that. Yes, there was this attraction she had for Ethan, but what I thought was far more important was the fact that he was so willing to help her, and believed her from the very beginning. I loved the mystery, the investigation (and what she learned from her grandma's boyfriend) - the fact that her and her family were so willing to fight for the injustice that was being done - and that she wouldn't give up or just give in. (She was a lot stronger than she ever could have imagined.) There were twists that I didn't expect, things I thought would happen that didn't, and the ending left me quite surprised.

I recommend that this book be read by children in high school - or even ones getting ready to begin there. To me it is a story about bullying and shows you what can happen when you keep your mouth shut instead of speaking out against what is wrong.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Please remember that this review is my opinion based on my own personal impression of the book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polarity In Motion

Brenda Vicars


Digital copy of this book received from the author for an honest review.


Oh my goodness.......POLARITY IN MOTION wrecked my heart the whole time I was reading. Once I started reading, I was instantly hooked on Polarity and what that poor girl was going through. I read this heartbreaking story in one sitting. I couldn't stop flipping the pages and I had to know what was going to become of Polarity. Nothing that happened was her fault and you couldn't help but cheer for her as she tries to figure it all out.


POLARITY IN MOTION has so much mystery involved that as soon as I thought I figured out who was bullying Polarity with her photo, Brenda Vicars throws me a curve ball and I realize I'm totally wrong. I love when an author does that to me. As you are reading Polarity's story you will feel embarrassed for her, so much so that you feel as if you are in school with her and glaring at everyone in the room trying to protect your new friend.


Once I met Ethan, Polarity's friend, I was totally hooked on him and prayed he wouldn't hurt her too. He is a good guy and tries really hard to help her out and find out who is doing this to her. Ethan opens Polarity's eyes to what other students go through that she never really thought about. Bullying and racism still goes on in school and Polarity can not sit there and keep her mouth shut. She knows what it feels like to be picked on and not have anyone stand up for you. She can't let someone else go through that.


POLARITY IN MOTION is such a moving story. All of the characters are very relatable, especially Danny who is the class jerk and had me thinking about all those boys I went to school with that acted just like him. Now I find myself praying that there will be another book about Polarity and Ethan. Please Ms. Vicars, continue the story to San Antonio so we can see how Polarity is doing. She has a huge heart and I know she isn't done helping the underdog.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polarity in Motion is a truly wonderful, touching and thought provoking read.

The main story arc centers on the mystery of who posted the naked pic of Polarity online, and that alone was intriguing enough to keep me turning the pages. But there is so, so much more to this story than that. Polarity's quest to unravel the who's, why's and how's led her on quite the eye-opening journey -not an easy journey but a hugely significant one.

Polarity was a superb protagonist. She held her own throughout what was most certainly a harrowing experience, not only working through her own issues but also taking in and questioning many bigger issues impacting the world around her.

Each and every character had depth, had their own stories and their own demons. Tactfully developed, all were woven through the main story arc admirably well and contributed something of value to the plot (and to me -the reader). Some very real, very tough themes covered. Never did anything feel too heavy, and never did anything feel fluffed or made light of.

Ethan, I loved. An alpha male in many ways (respected, protective, strong, good looking and confident), yet not at all an asshole. He was refreshing and exactly the type of guy girls should be looking for in a bf.

His and Polarity's relationship was a slow burning one but it was all the more heart warming for it. I felt their connection, I cared and rooted for them. This is the type of romance I take most enjoyment from in books.

Entertaining and important, both teens and adults, alike, would benefit from reading this. I definitely recommend :)

*Many thanks to the author, Brenda Vicars, and to choosybookworm.com for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well! This was certainly not what I was expecting. This was a fabulous read. Kept me turning pages and away from PC all day today, I think my online friends sent out a search party for me!

Nude photographs, who dunnit.

When Polarity discovers people purring over a photo of herself naked, she is in so many emotional places at once, she would NEVER EVER do this, just where did this come from, who did this.

A Mother with a black or white perception on life, no gray areas, does not help.

She's taken away form her home under Child protection services, people who she thought knew her start to taunt her, ridicule her.

The actual pace of this book is very fast, you are flicking pages and time just escapes you.

This was a great change to the books I have been reading lately, I would love to read more from this author.

It certainly is a MUST read.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)

I felt quite sorry for Polarity, as being told a nude picture of you was going around the school, when you have no idea how it was taken, would be awful.

This was an okay read, but I found it a bit slow. After a bit, I started to lose interest as well, as I just wanted answers, and it felt ike it took a while to get them.

Overall, An okay read, but felt a bit longer than it was.

[Ryan Buckby · Rating 5 out of 5]

someone on goodreads contacted me and told me that the author of the book was looking for people to read and review her book so i thought i'd take the opportunity to be able to do so. before you go any further with reading this review i strongly reccommend you go read the book before you take a look at my review as i will be spoling some very important plot points in the novel.

this book was honestly one of the best books i have read this year and it would have to be my favourite book of the year hands down, the story written beautifully, the characters polished to utter perfection as they all had their own unique and complexe ways and issues.

This book had me guessing from beginning to end, brenda started the story off strong and devled right into the life of a 15 year old girl who unfortunately had a picture taken, posted to the internet then sent around to the entire school. It made me realise that how quickly people are to point fingers and make the victim feel utterly helpless and made to feel ashamed with something that has being taken out of their own control.

I very much enjoyed the way brenda portayed the sterotype's of different races throughout the novel and how you are put into a category depending on what culture you belong to. it just goes to show how quickly people judge and the horrible things that people will say and assume that every single person is like that one person, it made me realise that just because one person did something wrong doesn't mean everyone is like that.

The relationship that polarity had with her parents was very interesting to me, she had to deal with her mothers condition that in ways put a strain on not only her but her father as well, there were some very emotional moments that affected me as a reader, and as a human being. Polarity and her grandmother's relationship had the lighterside to it and had sort of an escape for polarity that she could have some what of a normal life while living with her grandmother. I found Polarity and Ethan's relationship the happier side of the story it took me out and made me leave the seriousness of the main issue of the book, the romance wasn't really a big thing in the book that didn't bother me. I liked that Ethan was so willing and believed Polarity from the beginning that he did everything in his power to help her resolve the problem that she was facing it was like she wasn't alone.

I loved loved this book, i will be reccommending this to all my friends who read books and i will be myself now going out to buy a pyshical copy of the book so i can read it over and over again!

[Tamara Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenda Vicar's Polarity in Motion is my hands down favorite book of 2015! and yes I know it's not even April yet but I'm calling it anyway and I'm confident that my mind won't be changed very easily. This book was smart, had heart and was beautifully written. After reading it, I ran around telling anyone who would listen how great it was and I don't usually do that.

From the explanation of the main character's name- Polarity to her mother's illness it was handled with such a breath of fresh air and candor. I can't stop praising it enough. The love affair between Polarity and Ethan was perfect for their age group and in their situation. I truly appreciated the fact that the author chose to allow the reader to fall in love with Polarity before forcing us to fall in love with the couple way too early in the book. Instead we were genuinely rooting for her to find happiness, and Ethan was the perfect fit for her. They were both strong and resilient in different yet similar ways. It was great to read about a teenaged heroine who may have bent under her dire circumstances but did not ever contemplate breaking. It was refreshing the candidness the author approached the realistic situation of sending kids to alternate schools for bad behavior and even how they treat children in the child protection system , the fact that in our society (the world over, not just in america) it's usually the poor who suffer first and the hardest. and alot of the time it happens to minorities.

I absolutely loved the fact that Polarity internalized this and wanted in her heart to be a better person because of that. The author didn't just glaze over it, she acknowledged the fact that it wasn't something that one teenager could fix, fiction or not.

Added bonus was the main protagonist , the cause of Polarity's exile (both physical and emotional) wasn't just one person, or one thing but a culmination of things and people. Brenda Vicars, you are a star and I wish you an insane amount of success!! If only more people were as socially aware as you are!

[Mary Fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

15-year-old Polarity Weeks has it rough. As if living with a mother with borderline personality disorder isn't hard enough, she and her family must move around a lot to seek treatments for Mom, meaning Polarity is always the new girl in school and often mocked as "trailer trash." Having a nerdy habit like a love for poetry doesn't help either. But all this is nothing compared to the humiliation and madness caused by having a naked picture of yourself surface online.

Polarity is the last one to know about her nude photo – and she's utterly blindsided. The girl in the photo is unmistakably her, and yet she doesn't recall ever posing for it. And when it spreads throughout the school, Polarity, who barely has computer access at home, is the last to know. Classmates mock her and slut-shame her. Teachers judge her and penalize her. Even her parents, though they try to be supportive, think she stripped for someone. Only Ethan, the kindhearted boy she's crushing hard on, believes in her innocence.

Polarity in Motion is a contemporary young adult tale full of harrowing challenges as Polarity deals with the fall-out of a crime she didn't commit. Because the authorities suspect her parents of taking the picture and possibly trafficking her, she's ripped from her home for her protection. Her school sends her to an "alternative education" campus that feels a lot like jail, refusing to believe her repeated insistences that she neither posed for nor posted the picture. And yet this isn't an angst novel by any means. Polarity displays an admirable ability to remain calm even as her world falls to piece. That's not to say she doesn't suffer the humiliation and fear that comes with being persecuted by the very people who are supposed to be protecting her. Rather, she pushes through the hardship and focuses on fixing the mess. And along the way, she learns some valuable life lessons.

Polarity in Motion adeptly handles a lot of tough subjects affecting real world teens today – cyberbullying, drugs, dealing with overzealous social workers and school officials, living with a mentally ill parent, and an acknowledgement of white privilege. Also, as depicted on the cover, interracial dating. Each subject is adeptly handled in a way that's plot-relevant and believable. While it does handle a lot of issues, it's not an "issues" book. The core of the novel is still the story and the characters. Aside from the cyberbullying, the part that stood out most to me was the depiction of Polarity's mother. It struck me as realistic and nuanced – a rare portrayal of someone dealing with mental illness that doesn't judge, victimize, or glorify the subject.

In fact, that can be said about all the subjects tackled in Polarity in Motion. As a protagonist and narrator, Polarity refrains from going to extremes in any of her observations. Rather, she tries to understand the crazy world around her, in which there are no straight answers to many of the challenges she faces. This was a fast read for me – I read it in two days because I couldn't put it down (something I never expected from a contemporary novel, since I usually read twist-y sci-fi and fantasy). With its subtle writing and compelling story lines, Polarity in Motion is a memorable and relevant teen book for the 21st century.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a contemporary Nancy Drew with a malicious and dark twist, Polarity finds that bullying comes in all forms of personal humiliation when a nude picture of her hits the internet hang out for her classmates. That isn’t degrading enough? No one believes she has no idea where it came from, how it was taken or who would do such a vile thing. Only Ethan, is on her side, for now, but will he, too jump ship and turn his back on her? Battered emotionally, but not defeated, and with the world against her, Polarity sets out to prove her innocence, as well as show who the monster was who did this to her. She takes her “punishment” deals with the snickers and glares, the feeling of being different and alone, once again, but pushes forward, one lie and one heartache at a time.

Talk about powerful! Talk about relevant to our times! Talk about a sad statement about the callousness of youth and the insecurities of others to stand up and say enough is enough! Is each generation being desensitized to compassion? Even authority figures are hearing with a deaf ear!

Polarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars is powerful reading, a must read for all who oppose bullying in any form. She has created a strong and vibrant character in Polarity, a girl who feels like her life is the only one not “normal,” but who has her eyes opened to others around her. Ethan seemed to be a strong on and off supporter of Polarity’s, and his vacillations at first glance were confusing, but Brenda Vicars has mastered the air of suspense, and doling out information carefully at the precise moment I wanted to scream! Very well written, very intense, Polarity in Motion should grace every library and reading list, no matter the age. Do a teen a favor, encourage them to read this, they’ll be glad you did.

I received this copy from the author as part of the POLARITY IN MOTION TOUR &GIVEAWAY at Tome Tender.

Publication Date: December 2, 2014
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
ISBN: 1940215374
Genre: YA Fiction
Print Length: 261 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Polarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars is an excellent YA read. It is very poignant and tackles a prominent issue among teens today. There is an interesting cast of characters that are well developed and easy to identify with in one way or another. Polarity is very memorable and her struggle is palpable. Not only does she have to deal with her mother's mental illness she must navigate being a new girl over and over again. She must face a whole different kind of bully at her new school. On top of that she must deal with everyone believing the worst of her. Well everyone except for Ethan. He believes her and wants to help her. She is falling for him and then things get worse... Can she figure things out and clear her name? Or will she end up dealing with the aftermath forever?

I really liked Polarity in Motion and would highly recommend it to others. I think the author did a good job at illustrating bullying and how it can affect people and not just the person who is being bullied. I liked Polarity a lot because she was a strong girl. She had a lot to deal with and she held her own through it all. She didn't lose it. I also liked Ethan a lot. I liked that he was willing to help her and he was willing to do just about anything. Their relationship was sweet. I hope to hear more about them sometime in the future. This was a great book and I hope the author writes more. I know I will read them if she does.

[Kim Aleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty- I don't read much.... But when I started reading this book - I couldn't put it down! As the mother of a 15yr old girl- my interest would seem obvious.... This was not the case. I immediately became deeply involved with Polarity and her many complicated circumstances. I felt as if I was the 15 year old girl and traveled into High School today! I feel much closer to my daughter and much more aware of the dangers at school and their consequences. I recommend this book to all kids in MS & HS as well as to their parents!!! While heavy subjects are addressed- it is done tastefully and responsibly! A must read for both parents and kids! I can't wait to hear what my child has to say about the book! Refreshingly- there are no inappropriate scenes of a sexual nature! Any scenes like that are extremely mild. This is a great mystery and truly brings out seeing the best in others!!!

[Carrie Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully scripted without being preachy, this coming-of-age novel explores important issues like interracial relationships, racism, bipolar disorder (the mom), alcoholism (the dad), fitting in at a new school and being bullied. Meanwhile, there is a true love story with great chemistry between the two main characters. I loved it. I wish there was more by this author! Maybe a sequel is in order...

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Polarity In Motion
Author: Brenda Vicars
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Polarity in Motion" by Brenda Vicars

My Thoughts....

I found this novel a good thought provoking and touching read for any young adult and parent. What will happen as fifteen year old Polarity is put in a unfortunate situation? I liked how this author was able to 'address many level of bullying, social media, mental illness, racial discrimination, drugs and relationships' that so many youngsters can relate to. Even with all of this it is so hard to believe people can be so cruel. So, in the end how will this story end about a nude photo that goes viral? A bag of drugs and more? OK, to find out who put the photo out there and more you will have to pick up 'Polarity in Motion' to find out. How will Polarity 'save herself by saving someone else?'

I really enjoyed 'the love in the message about inequity that involved 'Polarity's road to self discovery.' The author did a great job giving the readers some amazing characters that were presented and handled the different issues so very well in this young adult novel. "Polarity in Motion" was definitely a compelling story to read and definitely learn from it.

Thank you to the author for a good read.

[Dominique Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was more than just a high.school prank gone wrong. This was showing systematic racism, classism and growing up in the digital age. I think everyone should read this and see what they take for granted everyday. It opened my eyes.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check out the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.

Note: This ebook was provided by Good Tales Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Polarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars is one of those books that will stay with you even after you're done reading it. It's a beautifully written tale about one fifteen-year-old girl and the unexpected journey of discovery that she finds herself on after a nude photo of hers makes its rounds online. No one ever said being a teenager was easy and I'm pretty sure bullying isn't something that only started a decade or two ago. Sadly, bullying is something that's been around for far longer, but with social media being as popular as it is, bullying has surpassed a level I never thought possible. People can be cruel, especially the anonymous haters and bullies on the internet that make it their life's purpose to spew viciousness. I mean, how do you fight back, right? That's what was so inspiring about this book--this young girl made herself fight back by asking questions, demanding answers, and not allowing what happened to her beat her down, because then, that would simply be handing over the power to the bullies and allowing them to win.

Polarity is only fifteen but she has a maturity about her that may have stemmed from having to manage her mother's borderline bipolar disorder. She cried over the whole nude photo scandal but she bounced back and the support she received from Ethan and her grandmother buoyed her spirits. Even as her own parents seemed to believe that she did pose for the photo, they refused to have school authorities treat her as if she were a criminal. The way her parents handled everything showcased how different they were and I loved her father's quiet but strong presence because he didn't need to announce to the world what he was doing to help his daughter--he simply did. It reminded of my own father. ^.^ And of course, Polarity and Ethan's love story was sweet and their mutual need to protect one another is something that you wish you would see in more people their age. These two were young but they knew the difference between what was right and wrong and they decided that taking a stand was something that simply needed to be done.

There's a point in the story where Polarity suddenly notices that the black students have their own table, away from the white students, and that there are indeed more black kids placed in safe houses and in the alternative school known as Beauty compared to white kids. Then, she realizes that she's heard racist comments before but simply went on her way and did nothing about them. Maybe it was her developing friendship with Ethan that makes her finally see that it's time she says something about it and to put others on notice that it isn't okay to say disparaging things about other people, even if it's supposedly done without malice or hate. Let's face it, racist comments are racist because there is malice and hate and the excuse that it's already part of one's vocabulary underlines how sad it is that we allow these things to seep into our everyday utterances. If there's a book a need to highly recommend to teen readers out there, it would have to be Polarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars. It's a gem of a book and gets five-plus stars. ♥

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy from the author in return for a honest review.

When I review books I do not delve into writing a synopsis of the book, I prefer to highlight how the book has affected my emotions and intellect. I often look for more details in what I read in other reviews but I am not one to add more than what others have outlined.

I was excited and looking forward to reading this book because Polarity's mother who had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). There are several people in my family who has (one is deceased) the disorder and I grew up being totally affected and immersed by it. What I didn't expect was such an unique view and understanding of the disorder in this book. There were several times I found myself relating immediately to the dialogue or circumstance remembering what it was like having to deal with someone with this difficult mental illness.

The storyline and events kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering what was going to happen next. I appreciated the feeling of reality to the various characters and their stories and I think the book has a lot to offer the reader, in particular young people. To me the author is very savvy in the understanding of peer pressure, bullying and the difficulties of school life.

I'll address what I have read in other reviews and experienced in my own reading of the book. There are sections of the storyline that seemed contrived and perhaps a bit "too good to be true". But bear with me, I feel that it is a catalyst or serves a purpose to bringing about the message of the story. I am an artist and I might "contrive" a portion of the painting to highlight an idea or feeling. In reality, perhaps the lighting isn't that bright or yellow, but it will evoke emotion or the sense of being loved or happy. I feel good writing is an art form and I don't expect a book to be totally realistic or flawless. I will over-look certain elements if I know that it was a vehicle to a means to an end. I think in these so-called flaws, the humanity and personality of an author comes through and I want to sense the author in the book I am reading.

The message of the book is profound and very important to young people dealing with many issues including racial prejudice. I found myself (sadly but true) initially looking forward to taking a stance and attitude against the borderline mother because of my own experience with BPD. This book help uncover my own prejudice against people who suffer from this mental disorder which in turn has helped me to grow and re-evaluate my point of view. When a book touches my emotions and specifically helps re-align my thinking or attitude, I think that is writing to be valued and applauded.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounding up
This is an interesting book that encompasses a lot of current issues facing young high school students today- bullying, social media, mental illness and racial discrimination, drugs and relationships. It will make you stop and think. I have two teenage daughters and the dangers of social media are a reality.

Polarity is a character you will root for from the beginning. Her home life is, at times, heartbreaking. She is bullied at school. But the climax comes when kids start looking at a nude photo of Polarity on the Internet. Polarity has no idea where the photo came from or who took it but it's there. Nobody believes her when she says she has no idea how the photo came to be. She is accused, pulled from her home and from her school. It's awful and as a mother I cannot even imagine.

Polarity's mother is anything but "normal" which makes the situation even more difficult to deal with. Polarity has a lot responsibility on her shoulders. I think she was forced to grow up faster than many other kids her age. But I love that the book points out that really, there is no such thing as normal. Everyone, everywhere, has things that are hard and everyone struggles at some point or another.

I love Polarity's grandmother. She is solid and surrounds Polarity with love and safety. She is perfect. Polarity wants to uncover the truth of the photo and is working hard to do that. There are some people who help her out along the way and it was good to see.

I was interested in this book from the beginning. There were many times I felt like the book was sort of spinning in the same place and I wanted it to more forward more quickly. A lot of the thoughts and feelings were reiterated many times. Aside from that I found this to be a compelling read.


Content: Obviously, this story is about a nude photo gone viral. Aside from that there is a couple instances of kissing but no other sexual content. I cannot remember any swearing or profanity but I forgot to take notes so I'm not 100% sure. oops.

[Myndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the generous author, who asked me to review it.

This is one of those books that I just could not put down. I stayed up last night until it was done. I was drawn into Polarity's story from page one and I just had to know what happened next. This girl's life changed in an instant and there was nothing she could do to control the whirlwind of events that happened to her. In addition to the lack of control over the situation, she also had a sort of lack of control in her private daily life outside of school dealing with a parent with a condition that made things very chaotic at times. What struck me most throughout the entire book was how Polarity didn't just sit back and take things and didn't mope around feeling sorry for herself. She stood up for herself, she investigated, and when things started going south for her friend, she did the same thing. I also really love the message about inequity involved in Polarity's road to self discovery. I definitely see this as a great way to reach out to teens and teach some valuable life lessons.

[Paula Berryman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It is awesome to have a book written from an educator and a student's perspective. The book addressed so many levels of bullying that I was hooked. Having two teens I think social media is a blessing and a curse in so many ways. I couldn't put this book down until it was finished.

This book is perfect for adults & teens. If you liked: Speak you will love this book.

[Rebekah May · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Polarity gets called to the principal's office, a million things are running through her head at once. Are her parents hurt? If they are she doesn't want to find out at school. Was there a fire at the trailer park? Fires spread quickly in trailers, she knows. What should she do? Where will she go? But when she's finally marched to the principal's office, it's worse than she thought. Her parents are fine but the police won't let her see them, or even speak to them, because a naked picture of her is circulating the online hemisphere, and the police don't know who did it. Polarity in Motion follows Polarity as she tries to figure out how this photo even came to be in existence, since she certainly didn't pose for it, never mind who posted it, and as she helps a friend and deals with the accusations from the adults in her life.

Disclaimer: I was gifted an ecopy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review, and honestly? I'd have happily spent the money to get this book even if she hadn't. This book was fantastic. Everything with the naked photo was handled exactly how it would have been in real life. All the assumptions that the adults in this story made, although they hurt Polarity's feelings, were totally understandable. Even I, who was inside of Polarity's head as she constantly denied posing for that photo, was thinking 'maybe she was drugged', there didn't seem any chance that she didn't pose for it. Even Photoshop isn't a good enough editing programme to be able to edit something that heavily. With no evidence to the contrary, it was perfectly reasonable that they came to the conclusion they did, and the thing that frustrated me most was Polarity's stubbornness to not think about how it came into existence, only that she didn't pose. But again, for a 15 year old it was also perfectly reasonable that she refuse to think about the situation in which the photo was taken and only refuse to have been in a situation at all.

Which leads me to the thing I really enjoyed with this novel. I can tell Brenda Vicars has worked closely with teenagers before, because she's the best author I've seen yet to write from a teenager's perspective. Even just Polarity's inner monologue read like a 15 year old had wrote it. The speech, especially between teens, was exactly how teenagers talk. I was really impressed, a lot of authors accidentally make teenage characters in particular talk as if they were in their early twenties rather than their mid-teens. Speaking of, the characters in this were great. The all had depth, even the side characters had at least some complexity. I really enjoyed reading about them.

The main reason I enjoyed this book was the amount of issues it dealt with. Bullying, racism, classism, and mental health issues, even a little mention of drugs in schools, and it dealt with them all well. Bullying is usually subtle, or at least that's what I found in school. There's always one extreme case and one person has it worse than everyone else, but usually it's just the bad nickname or the odd remark. And with the birth of the digital age accounts like Polarity's, of pictures and videos being circulated, are becoming more and more common. The police still aren't very well equipped to or good at dealing with situations like this, so I was expecting Polarity and her family and friends to have to sort it out themselves.

Racism and classism weren't completely focussed on in PiM, but prejudice and how even people who are for equality for everyone can be blind to their own prejudices, was touched on a lot. It was dealt with perfectly, most of the time teens make racist remarks either without realising what they're saying or thinking that because they're not saying them around people of colour it's fine and they're not actually being racist. I liked the message that Vicars sent across regarding prejudice. With classism it was purely that one of the girls lived in a trailer park, obviously had less money than them all, and so was immediately dubbed the one to bully and call names. That's all children need to target someone, just a tiny difference. It was interesting to see these things play out from Polarity's point of view.

I enjoy novels that deal with mental health issues. Going into this I had no idea what borderline personality disorder was. I did a little bit of research after I started this to educate myself a little. I haven't read anything about kids dealing with their parent's mental health disorders before, so this was a new area for me. It was a good insight into the disorder, and I think Vicars handled it really well. It didn't demonise the disorder at all, which I was pleased to see. Especially considering what Polarity could have felt towards her mum at that age when every thought is about your own life and how you are affected rather than how it affects anyone else. Really interesting and fair insight into BPD.

I really enjoyed this novel. The writing was great, the characters were amazing! (I'm a sucker for character driven plot lines.) and the various issues were handled really well. The romance was well paced and actually healthy for once, not like a lot of the other YA romances were it's completely one-sided and the boys are usually controlling. This was a really refreshing young adult novel. The only things I disliked were purely due to my own preferences, I'm not a big YA reader for a reason. But to be perfectly honest, a lot of the things I dislike about YA books were non-existent in PiM. I'd definitely pick up another Brenda Vicars book. I hope to read more of her work in the future!

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 4 out of 5]

INITIAL THOUGHTS
Approaching this one, I was expecting a contemporary YA/NA. It should be an interesting, read as I imagine with the technology and the applications the youth of today have access to that this could actually happen.

MY REVIEW
I received a free e-copy of this book by Red Adept Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
The cover depicts the hands of a teen boy and girl. Who from reading the book I would say are the hands of Polarity and Ethan.
So the book begins on what is initially a normal day at school for Polarity, she isn't part of the "in" crowd so doesn't get out of her seat and go over to Danny and his mates to see what they are all staring at and giggling over, on his computer screen. When the teacher returns to the classroom and takes a look at Danny's computer everything drastically changes for Polarity. The teacher, Mr Hill instructs Polarity to report to the heads office. When Polarity tries to comply she is told continually told that she needs a hall pass. Naturally she becomes anxious and thinking maybe something could be wrong with her parents she decides to leave school and go home. Unfortunately for her she is apprehended and returned the the principals office. Finally she is seen by Mrs Sanchez the principal who asks Polarity about the picture everyone had been looking at on Danny's computer. Obviously Polarity has no clue what picture is being spoken about. The police have been called and the child protection services, everything rapidly changes for Polarity, it's so difficult to get her mind around what is happening. To make comprehending everything that is going on even harder Polarity is not allowed to have any contact with her parents at all. Polarity tries to explain that she didn't pose for the photograph. The photograph depicts a nude Polarity who looks as if she is dancing, posing and laughing for the camera. Polarity has no knowledge of when this happened or how it happened. As a quieter girl she is mortified that people have seen this photograph and her first instinct is to want her parents support. However that is denied as Polarity's parents are immediately under suspicion from the Police and child protection services.
Polarity is whisked away from school to an emergency foster home. It's in the middle of the night that Polarity speaks to another girl in the home who gives her what turns out the best advice ever. Polarity and the girl create a quite strong bond even though they don't actually see each other as the discussion they have is in the dark, but they really do make a connection. It is a non judgmental fledgling friendship maybe that connection could be explored more in another book? The following day Polarity is handed over to her grandmother. Whilst Polarity enjoys spending time with her grandmother she misses her parents. To make life even more difficult Polarity's mother has mental health issues where she see's thing as black or white. So there are times within the book that Polarity's mother seems to believe the worst of her daughter.
There are some great characters in this book as well as the main one Polarity, there's the young girl at the emergency foster home, there's Ethan they guy from school who Polarity has a crush on, who turns out to be a big help to Polarity when she is trying to work out who sent the original photograph.
This book deals with the whole subject of bullying from quite a lot of different angles and really well too. There's also unexpected friendships along the way as well as covering the mental health issues too. I felt really drawn into this book, I wanted to solve the mystery of how the photograph was made and spread around the school so quickly. A few times I thought maybe I had solved the mystery, and though I was on the right track there was still a twist or two before everything becomes clear.
So did I enjoy the book? I really did yes. I could seriously go on and on about this book. So I have tried hard not to reveal too much as you need to go through the whole incident that the book is based on with the character Polarity. Would I recommend the book? I definitely recommend this book. Would I want to read another book with these characters ie like this be part of a series? Yes, I think I'd perhaps like to discover the stories of Ethan, or those other characters at the emergency foster home. Would I want to read other titles by this author? Yes please!

[Claire (Book Blog Bird) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Polarity In Motion starts off with a bang. Polarity Weeks is the new girl in school. She and her parents travel around a lot and live in their trailer, searching for a cure for her mother’s borderline personality disorder. Because Polarity has an unusual name, lives in a trailer park and writes poetry, she gets picked on a bit at school, but nothing compares to the day she looks up in class to see that everyone is ogling a nude picture of her on the internet. What’s worse, is that she has no idea how the picture was taken of who took it. Before she can catch her breath, she is hustled off into foster care while her parents are being investigated.

The first half of this book was kind of a roller coaster ride and I felt so sorry for Polarity and all the things she had to face. Things just seemed to keep getting worse and worse! Even once she was restored to her parents, her problems didn’t go away. The paced slowed down a lot in the second half of the book where a couple of different mysteries are being solved, but the author has a nice style of writing that made it very easy to rattle through the book

I liked Polarity a lot as a character and it was good to watch her grow as a person throughout the course of the book to the point where she was holding her own with the town sheriff and the school principle.

There is some romance in the book and while Polarity and Ethan are very sweet, I didn’t really get why she liked him so much, other than the fact he’s hot (which is obviously a valid reason!) I would have liked a bit more interaction between them, something to really show why they’re connecting. I did like the way they both tried to solve each other’s problems, though.

Polarity In Motion is definitely an issues book as opposed to an entertainment book and while I absolutely have to give snaps to the author for tackling the subjects she writes about (racism, drugs in schools, mental health, bullying, the care system) I would have preferred it if she’d stuck to just one or two issues and explored them in a bit more depth.

All in all though, I thought this was a pretty good book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Red Adept Publishing and Netgalley.

This review and others are on my blog: www.bookblogbird.weebly.com

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received this book complimentary. Provided I give my honest opinion.

Polarity In Motion is about a fifteen year old girl named Polarity, who deals with having to move to different towns/schools constantly. The reason they have to move around a lot is because of her mother's mental condition. Her mother has borderline Personality Disorder, so she is constantly trying to find some doctor or some form of remedy. They end up moving to Garcia when Polarity is in ninth grade, because of some new type of therapy for her mother. One day during sixth period of school, a naked picture of Polarity pops up on Danny's (One of the popular jocks) computer screen. This ended up getting her sent to the principal's office and the cops being called. Poor Polarity had no idea how the picture of her naked body got posted at all, especially since it looked like she was posing for it. This made it hard for anyone to believe she would not pose for such a picture. The Police suspected her parents, which led to an investigation and child services being called. Polarity has to figure out how to clear her and her parent's name.

I found this book touched on a lot of sensitive subjects, such as bullying and Racial/mental issues. It isn't like any of the other young adult books I have read that deal with suspense/drama. I found Vicars to give more detail about certain things. Which I can see where some readers may not like this, because it can make a book drag sometimes. I actually enjoy all the details the author gives. It also left me hanging on my seat a lot of times, because I was ready to know who made the picture! She kept me guessing who the culprit was, which is also a plus. I will agree I got emotional at certain areas of this book, But that means it's a good book, right? I really enjoyed how the author talked about Borderline Personality Disorder, as you do not hear much about this mental disorder. I think it is one of the difficult disorders to understand and diagnose, and it is always great to get more information out about certain health or mental issues. I feel it helps others to understand more about people who deal with them. I highly recommend this book, because it is an awesome read!

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polarity in Motion was heartbreaking to read. It makes me so grateful for my highschool experience. The plot was pretty straightforward. A naked picture of a girl shows up on the internet. And then the consequences. But it's about so much more. This book deals with so many subjects that are relevant to us these days. It was really a wonderful read.

The main character is Polarity, a very sheltered fifteen-year-old girl who has moved around a lot due to her mother's mental illness. I love it when books deal with mental illness. And this one shows how the family copes with a mother who is not completely stable. She loves them, but she certainly doesn't always show it. And the family gets frustrated with her. But they understand that it's just the way things are.

Ethan has my heart in this book. I love that Vicars pulled characters from all races. More young adult books need to do this. And Ethan is the best kind of guy ever. He's sweet, friendly, protective. But he isn't completely predictable. I kept finding myself asking, "wait, what? Why did he just do that? What's going on?" Until finally things are revealed completely with him. And even better, because of Ethan, Polarity learns a lot about privileges and race. She learns to see people differently. Even though she wasn't "racist" to begin with, she was still half blind to the suffering of others. And Ethan helped her become a better person.

Polarity in Motion is so different from anything I've read before. And yet it's so realistic. Kids are bullied in school. And there are lots of consequences. After the whole naked picture thing happens the police are involved. Once Polarity's parents are cleared it's not over. Someone had to make the picture. And so the blame has to go somewhere doesn't it? Things in life are never simple. And Polarity in Motion really displays how difficult life can be.

I would recommend this to anyone that reads young adult books. Even if contemporary isn't your favorite genre it's a worthwhile read.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding story. It was easy to be drawn in to Polarity’s dilemma. The scenario is realistic, complex, and so are all of the characters. Not only is Polarity a victim of circumstance, but she has to deal with her mother’s borderline personality disorder. This causes Polarity’s mother to turn things around to make this all about her. This disorder causes her to be extremely focused on details others overlook. She is highly intelligent and a tenacious bull dog who won’t let things go. She is also willing to verbally attack with very little provocation. Polarity and her father certainly have their hands full. Her mother’s story is heart-wrenching in and of itself.

One of the story lines is the relationship between Polarity and Ethan. Ethan is a black student in her class that takes it upon himself to unravel the mystery of where this naked picture of Polarity came from. He is intelligent and has been at this school longer than Polarity so he knows the students better. Polarity is drawn to his strength of character and steadfastness. I enjoyed the way their relationship developed and the trials and tribulations they went through.

One of the main themes that runs through this story are barriers, either seen, unseen, or flat out denied to exist. At the end of the book are some discussion questions for book clubs to consider. The whole story is compelling with several elements expertly woven throughout the whole novel to give a well-rounded view of Polarity’s situation and the complexities that arose.

Ms. Vicar has done an excellent job with her debut novel. It is obvious that she has had experience with students, school faculty, mental disorders, and law enforcement advocates. Polarity in Motion is an eye opening story handled with compassion that everyone should be required to read.

Format/Typo Issues: I was given a promo copy to review, but found no significant errors in proofing or formatting.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy.** March 6, 2015

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.

I loved it. It was thought-provoking and layered and real. It deal with real, difficult issues, but didn't resort to using graphic violence or sexuality for a shock factor.

The main character of Polarity is self-aware, flawed, but strives to make the right choice. I found her likable and easy to relate to. Her growth within the story was profound, but happened naturally as she experienced things that widened her perspective. Every character felt real and fully-fleshed. Almost as a metaphor of her name, every character had good and bad qualities which made them seem real and helped me as a reader sympathize with all of them.

The ins and outs of the legal system, foster care, and public schools was interesting and eye-opening. Polarity is one of the more fortunate, with two assertive parents on her side, but she has her fair share of difficulty with a mother with borderline personality disorder.

The mystery of who took and posted the incriminating picture of Polarity was a great hook and vehicle for the message of the rest of the book. It kept me guessing and wanting to know, and it also made way for the main character to experience some of the hardships her less-fortunate peers did.

I also liked the small bit of romance in the story. It didn't overtake the story. It was natural and teenaged, but didn't resort to titillation the way some young-adult stories do. The writing of the romance, the mystery, the characters, and the real world issues was captivating.

The voice actor did a great job. Every voice was distinct, and I knew automatically who was who. My only criticism there is that the "Texas" accent sounded more like the southeastern United States than Texan. I'm from Texas, so perhaps that's overly picky.

[Christina Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. At first I was turned off by the title and the main character's name, but there is actually a touching story behind the name, Polarity. Although this book is categorized as a romance, it is so much more than that. It's an intriguing mystery, which kept me turning the pages. It's about bullying and relationships. It's about dealing with the teenage drama in high school. It's about being powerless in the system. It's about growth and prejudice. It's about finding out who you are, who you are becoming, and who you want to be.

But my favorite part of the book, the part that struck an emotional chord in me, was the horrifying reality of Polarity's daily tight-rope act of dealing with her mother's mental illness. It was beautifully written and realistic. I didn't know much about Borderline Personality Disorder, but I assume Vicars did her research because Polarity's mom was startlingly real. Vicars manages to make the reader sympathetic to Mrs. Weeks, even while hoping for Polarity to escape her verbal and emotional abuse.

Vicars also writes Polarity's character so smoothly that she seamlessly grows throughout the story from a passive introvert into a strong-willed and confident girl without ever seeming like a different person. I love a book that leaves me wanting more, and I want to know what happens in her life next. I enjoyed Ethan, the grandmother, and Polarity's father as well.

As a high school teacher, I'm going to tell my students that this is a must-read! It would also be great to teach in a class because of the character growth, arcs, and symbolism in the story. I just recently read Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak, and really enjoyed it, but I think I actually enjoyed this one even more! Highly recommend.

[Christy Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first opened the pages of Polarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars, I began reading from the perspective of a mother and teacher of adolescents. However, by the end of the first chapter, I became submerged in the perspective of fifteen-year-old Polarity Weeks.

As a new student, Polarity Weeks begins Star Ninth Grade Center as an easy-target. She stands out not only because of her name, but also because of her quirky mother who named her and because of her family's current living arrangement in the trailer park. Her home life proves to be challenging enough, but her life becomes even more complicated when token "mean girls" at her new school conspire against her by posting a nude photo of her.

Maintaining her innocence, she then begins the journey of uncovering the source of the conspiracy with the help of lovable characters such as her grandmother and her love-interest, Ethan. Although she does not uncover the source of the photo until the very end of the book, subplots and flashbacks weave the story together and continue to build the momentum for the reader. While uncovering the truth about the photo, Polarity discovers more about herself, her family, and the world around her.
I highly recommend Polarity in Motion by Brenda Vicars to both teens and adults, alike, as the themes of forgiveness and social awareness are vitally necessary in our world today.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was without a doubt one of the most fascinating that I've read in a long time (especially one that wasn't a dystopia as those have been so popular lately). Polarity has a life that's so different from mine and I have to say I couldn't stop reading just to get some more information on her family.

Right away the reader develops a special relationship with Polarity because of the horrors that she faces as a nude picture of her shows up on the internet and everyone at school sees it. Getting taken away from her parents during this time was unimaginable and you can't help but feel for her in every moment.

I do think there are parts of the synopsis that are a bit misleading which made me a little disappointed but the story honestly was all the better for it.

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Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is way more than a romance novel as some might label it- while it had a small bit of romance in it the real story was in the investigation that not only the police performed but the investigation that Polarity and a few other friends went through.

I think this book could be a eye-opener to students in high school about how bullying and playing what they think are 'harmless pranks' can really have some dire consequences. Also, that acting in the heat of the moment might not be the best idea.

Polarity does a lot of growing in this novel- you see her at her weakest but you also see her at her strongest which is always nice to read.